In goal, it's Kings' Quick vs. Ducks' question mark

May 2, 2014

Updated May 3, 2014 5:28 p.m.

1 of 3

Kings goalie Jonathan Quick takes a breather during Game 7 the team's first-round series against San Jose. After struggling early in the series, Quick finished strong to help the Kings advance. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

1 of 3

Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen reacts after giving up a goal in the second period of a playoff game in Dallas. CHRISTINE COTTER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

1 of 3

Fans cheer after a Dallas goal against Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller in the third period of Game 4 of their first-round series. CHRISTINE COTTER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Kings goalie Jonathan Quick takes a breather during Game 7 the team's first-round series against San Jose. After struggling early in the series, Quick finished strong to help the Kings advance.MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

By sheer math, Quick can’t possibly cover all of a net’s 24 square feet. But that theory is tested when the Kings’ star goalie is making like a scorpion and throwing his skate up behind him to stop a puck out of mid-air.

Goaltending is a question for the Ducks as they enter this long-awaited Western Conference semifinal against the Kings. Jonas Hiller or Frederik Andersen will start Game 1 Saturday night but no one is saying who.

There is no such question with the Kings. The greatest obstacle the Ducks might face could be the athletic and often acrobatic Quick. And one of the NHL’s best already commands their attention.

“He’s probably one of the best goalies in the league,” Ducks winger Corey Perry said. “He’s one of the best goalies in the world when he’s playing at his (peak). He’s a tough guy to beat.

“He’s all over the place. He’s athletic. But he always finds a way to make those saves. When you have traffic or second opportunities, you got to make sure to bear down on those.”

Beating Quick four games in a series is no small feat. The rash of predictions for the series has swung well in the favor of the Kings simply because he is in their net and not the Ducks’.

It is because Quick is starting to resemble the Conn Smythe Trophy winner who was dominant in the Kings’ run to the Stanley Cup in 2012. Or the one who lifted them to the Western Conference final in 2013 before Chicago finally solved him.

San Jose made Quick look frighteningly human in the first round, putting 16 goals past him in three wins. The Sharks never did beat him that fourth time.

Quick’s numbers winning the final four games: five goals allowed, a 1.25 goals-against average and .963 save percentage. And Perry was watching.

“He gets better with every game he plays,” the Ducks’ 43-goal scorer said. “He’s just hitting his stride, so we got to try to do something to slow him down. Whatever it might be. Get a few early ones on him. Whatever it is and not look back.”

By the end of another seven-game struggle, the Kings improved their game throughout and pinned another case of playoff failure on the Sharks in becoming the fourth NHL team to come back from a 3-0 deficit.

Momentum-changing saves like the goal-line glove stop on Patrick Marleau during a 1-1 tie in Game 7 are what give the Kings eternal belief in Quick.

“That was a huge, huge save,” Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said. “That was a sick save. His game is going up, and that's exactly what we need from him. When he's hot and we're playing good defensive hockey, we're a hard team to score against.”

The thing is, the Ducks have beaten him. Quick was in goal for three of the Kings’ four losses to the Ducks this season, one a shootout in the season finale that allowed the Ducks to clinch the top seed in the West.

Just seven pucks got by Quick, though. But they are enough to give the Ducks confidence right now, summed up by Perry saying, “We’ve beat him. And hopefully we can continue to beat him.”

“Any goalie’s beatable,” center Nick Bonino said. “He’s a world-class goalie and he’s won a Stanley Cup before. He knows what it takes to win. And we’ve got to make it difficult on him.

“We can’t let him see the puck. We’ve got to get some traffic. Because if we let him see the puck, he’ll make every save.”

Both Hiller and Andersen have outdueled Quick, but they were hardly daunting in the opening series against Dallas.

Andersen started every game but was pulled in two. Hiller came to the rescue in Game 6, stopping all 12 shots he faced as the Ducks rallied to stun the Stars in overtime.

Boudreau said he has made his decision for Game 1 but remained steadfast in not revealing it. On the outside, his goaltending looks like a major question mark.

Not to him.

“It’s not up in the air here,” he said. “It’s definitive. We know who’s starting and they know who’s starting and we’ll run with it.”

Hiller acknowledged he is in a better place now than when the playoffs began. He understands there will be pressure to perform, regardless of who is on the ice.

“At the end, it’s Bruce’s decision what’s going to happen,” said Hiller, who hasn’t started since April 6. “All I can do is try to be ready if I get the call.”

Andersen said he approaches every game as expecting to play, adding that “we’ll talk about that when Bruce lets you guys know.”

The Ducks have gone from having enviable goalie depth to wondering who can take the net and run with it. But they insist there is no concern over not having a clear No. 1 at the most important time of the year.

“Our goalies have been great for us all year long,” defenseman Mark Fistric said. “It didn’t matter who came in to play for us. They played really well. We have full confidence in whoever plays tomorrow and in the future.

“We know that when they come in, they’re going to give us their best. Right now, we have two quality goalies that’ll give us ... a lot.”

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.